Community Corner – Nov. 28

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WWS Spotlight

Jaden Richer – WWS Grade 10 student

Grade 10 students are given the opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange and Jaden just returned from a few months abroad.
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Where did you go?
I studied at a Waldorf school in a small town near Paris.

What was notably different there?
Definitely the school hours – some days we were in class from 8:30 – 6! The pastries were excellent; the salads were a bit strange. People would eat only lettuce as a salad without other vegetables or additions.

What was the highlight of your time abroad?
I loved seeing all of the tourist attractions in Paris; the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles and all the cathedrals were amazing. I also visited Portugal .

And what about challenges?
It was hard committing to communicating in French. Everyone’s English was strong enough that I actually had the option to speak in English.

Were you excited to come back?
For sure. I missed the teachers; I feel like our teachers are a lot better here and I am also excited to have shorter school days again.

Our current Gr. 9 students are now planning their exchanges; what advice would you give them?
Talk to your exchange partner as much as possible before you go. Think of a bucket list of things that you’d like to do while there and importantly, don’t be afraid to share your opinion when asked!

Thanks Jaden. Happy to have you back!

Bulletin Board Listings:

Student Visitors Requesting Temporary Accommodation: There have been 2 visitor requests for short-term (1-3 weeks) accommodation in Whistler for this upcoming ski season. Details of both students are below with contact info. included. A bed or possible couch could do the trick so they can visit and enjoy our wonderful Whistler community for even a small amount of time or to get settled for longer. Thanks for your generosity!

Callum Mather – I’m 16 years old, from Australia and have been travelling around the U.S. for the past three months exploring, hiking and rock climbing. For our second part of the trip we came to explore beautiful British Columbia and hopefully to go snowboarding. I got a Whistler ski pass for my birthday and am hoping to use it for the start of the snow season.

Jonathan Marten – I’m 16 years old, coming from Switzerland where I visit a Waldorf school near to Zurich. At the moment I am on an international stay on Maui, there also visiting a Waldorf school, as my plans coming to Whistler did not work in summer. I am an uncomplicated, happy and sportiv guy and a fascinated Snowboarder.

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House swap available in France: Looking for a 3 bedroom plus home in Whistler over the Christmas break 2020 to swap with a Provençal farmhouse in rural area of France, 20 mins from Avignon. (Swap can be non-simultaneous).

Our home is a typical Provençal three storey 1860’s converted farmhouse with sitting room with large open fireplace, dining room, modern kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 3 modern bathrooms. Each room has heat pump heating/air conditioning units and all windows are double glazed. The house has its back to a local road to the north and overlooks a large 6000m2 garden to the south. The garden is mainly grass and trees with a secluded pool and a small vineyard.

Get in touch with Anna Earl for details or call 604-967-3648.

Establishing healthy social skills at an Early Age

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Children are encouraged to share, to work together, to care for each other and to respect the needs of others.

Children help perform a myriad of tasks including preparing snacks, setting the table, sweeping, and washing up after meals. An emphasis on gratitude, intention of preparation, and table manners helps develop lifelong social skills and a sense of responsibility.

Learn more about the Early Years program or contact Admissions to arrange a private tour of the Early Years Centre.

Winter Faire is back again Dec. 7

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Join us at our annual Winter Faire on December 7 to make seasonal crafts with your child. The Faire will feature beeswax candle dipping, candle rolling, woodworking and several other crafts including this wooden Santa.

The WWS Winter Faire has become a holiday tradition eagerly anticipated by families throughout the community. Festive craft making is a simple way of giving children an opportunity to express their creativity and make a special gift for someone on their list.

Date: Saturday, December 7
Time: 10-2 pm
Location: 7324 Kirkpatrick Way

Restorative Justice & Waldorf Education

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“We can say ‘Peace on Earth.’ We can sing about it, preach about it or pray about it, but if we have not internalized the mythology to make it happen inside us, then it will not be.”

Betty Shabazz – American Civil Rights Educator

All human beings are valued and relational.  This is a tenet of Restorative Justice and a place where Waldorf Education and Restorative Justice principles completely align.  In Waldorf Education a meaningful bond between teachers and students is essential to both academic success and personal growth.  In Restorative Justice respect, dignity and mutual concerns form the three pillars of creating a cohesive and connected community.

This week the North Shore Restorative Justice Society worked with teachers to help us hold community building circles in an intentional way. Circles are a way people in many cultures have come together as a community to talk about important issues and resolve problems.  Circle process is facilitated through a talking piece, allowing for thoughtful reflection, attentive listening and an unhurried pace.

The objective for circles is that students will feel they have been seen, heard, understood and that they have given and received respect.

Rubeena Sandhu – Head of School

New Early Years Centre sneak peak…

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Our new Early Years Centre in Spring Creek is set to open on Dec. 2nd. The newly renovated space has wood furniture and accessories and a new circle carpet to welcome the children.

“It is looking great. So much natural light and lots of space. It’s hard to see from the pictures, but it’s long with two separate play spaces, a nap room, and two bathrooms. There are also two lovely outdoor play spaces”, says Jen Dodds, Admissions Manager.

Space is still available for the 2019-20 for children 30 months to school age.

If you’re interested in having a private tour, please email Jen.

 

Days: 2, 3, 4 & 5 Day options available – Monday-Friday.

Times: 7:30-5:30PM

Months: Care is offered year-round.

Location: Sea-to-Sky Services Building @ 1519 Spring Creek Drive.

Community Corner – Nov. 21

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WWS Spotlight

Zen Moses & Savannah O’Heany– Grade 9 students

I hear you are both life long Waldorf students.

SO: Yes, we’ve both been here since preschool.

ZM: We are two of the original group along with Kaia and Maya who have also been here that long.

 

You must have some thoughts about Waldorf having been here this long.

ZM: I really like the education and that we learn so many different perspectives. In history, for example, we don’t just learn about one religion, we learn about all religions.

SO: And I would say that I really like how accepting everyone is. It’s not just the teachers who are accepting; the students are also taught to be ok with other students and accept their differences and that’s cool.

ZM: Looking back I also appreciate that I wasn’t pushed into reading so early. It took me a bit longer – I was a little slow and I was allowed to develop at my own pace.

You both were chosen to participate in the RMOW’s Sister City Youth Exchange to Karuizawa, Japan. How was that experience?

SO: It was awesome. There were so many highlights. We spent a night in Tokyo, took the bullet train, did lots of sight seeing including seeing lots of shrines. A highlight for me was attending school. Everything seemed to be run by the students themselves – they have a lot of responsibility which was interesting to see. We really felt like honoured guests there & Zen got to make a speech in front of their whole school.

ZM: Yes, I made a speech to about 200 students and then they welcomed us with student performances including a full orchestral performance conducted by a student. There were so many highlights, but the three big ones for me include: purchasing a sword; seeing the shrines – they were truly amazing and the onsen (public bathing) was a great cultural experience.

Thanks, Zen and Sav. Congratulations on being chosen to participate in this program! It sounds like we were very well represented by your participation.

Bulletin Board Listings:

House swap available in France: Looking for a 3 bedroom plus home in Whistler over the Christmas break 2020 to swap with a Provençal farmhouse in rural area of France, 20 mins from Avignon. (Swap can be non-simultaneous).

Our home is a typical Provençal three storey 1860’s converted farmhouse with sitting room with large open fireplace, dining room, modern kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 3 modern bathrooms. Each room has heat pump heating/air conditioning units and all windows are double glazed. The house has its back to a local road to the north and overlooks a large 6000m2 garden to the south. The garden is mainly grass and trees with a secluded pool and a small vineyard.

Get in touch with Anna Earl for details or call 604-967-3648.

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Howe Sound Women’s Centre looking for donations: We are always in need of gently used women’s and children’s clothes, shoes and other items. All donations gratefully accepted. A donation box is located in the Field House. Feel free to contact France with any questions or check out the Women’s Centre for more info.

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WWS Family in Search of Housing: We are a Vancouver based family needing weekday housing (possibly excluding holidays) for one adult, one grade 8 student, in the short term.  A quiet one or two bedroom, reasonably-priced, non-smoking suite would be ideal.  Full time housing for three of us, plus our dog, would be the longer term goal.  If you have any leads for temporary housing for one to two months (excluding Christmas), or longer term beyond spring 2020, we would appreciate the community’s help! Thanks, Trista.

 

Community Corner – Nov. 7

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WWS Spotlight

Rebecca Povall  – Grade 2 Teacher

Share a bit about yourself:

Hello Whistler Waldorf community! It has been fantastic to join such a welcoming community and getting to know you all so far!

I grew up in the UK, near Liverpool, and originally moved to Whistler in 2012, spending a couple of years here before moving to Perth, Australia. I became a teacher whilst in Australia before deciding I needed a little more snow in my life again so came back to BC in August last year. I have spent the majority of my 20s travelling and living in different places, so I have been extremely lucky to experience different cultures and ways of life!

After all your travels, where would you recommend someone visit?

It would have to be Ghana. I spent a month volunteering and travelling there and really enjoyed experiencing a completely different culture and way of life. At times it was very eye opening and really made me appreciate how lucky I am. I would highly recommend a visit there to anyone who is looking for a completely different travel experience; the Ghanaian people are so welcoming and friendly!

Outside of all the prep work teachers do, what else do you do outside of school?

Of course, I enjoy all the mountains have to offer – skiing, hiking and getting outside as much as possible. I recently bought a paddleboard, so spent many happy days on the lake this summer. A little while back I taught myself to crochet, so try to (slowly!) make things when I can. I also used to have a pet turtle in Australia so loved taking care of him!

Thanks, Rebecca and welcome to WWS!

Bulletin Board Listings:

Howe Sound Women’s Centre looking for donations: We are always in need of gently used women’s and children’s clothes, shoes and other items. All donations gratefully accepted. A donation box is located in the Field House. Feel free to contact France with any questions or check out the Women’s Centre for more info.

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WWS Family in Search of Housing: We are a Vancouver based family needing weekday housing (possibly excluding holidays) for one adult, one grade 8 student, in the short term.  A quiet one or two bedroom, reasonably-priced, non-smoking suite would be ideal.  Full time housing for three of us, plus our dog, would be the longer term goal.  If you have any leads for temporary housing for one to two months (excluding Christmas), or longer term beyond spring 2020, we would appreciate the community’s help! Thanks, Trista.

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THIS FRIDAY – Freestyle Ski Fundraiser with a Film Premiere and Silent Auction – Supporting Whistler’s Freestyle A-Team. For more information: https://artswhistler.com/event/faction-skis-the-collective-bonus-films

  • Date: Friday, November 8, 2019
  • Times: 7:00pm Doors/Opening Party | 7:45pm Show | 8:45pm Prizes/Giveaways
  • Tickets: $15 Advanced | $20 Day of show
  • Venue: Maury Young Arts Centre

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Youth Band looking for members – If you’ve ever wanted to play a trumpet, now is your chance! Or a flute, guitar, drums or any instrument you would like. The Whistler Youth Band is looking for musicians from Grade 5 and up – beginners are welcome!

Come out and try it on Mondays from 6:30-8:00pm at Blackcomb Base.

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Volunteering Opportunities at Whistler Olympic Park – If you like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or just enjoy being outdoors, consider volunteering at Whistler Olympic Park! Applications are being accepted now for this ski season.